Variable-speed mechanism.



. G. E. WITHBRELL, E E. SEWARD & G. L. MASON.

VARIABiEE arm macmmsm.

APPLIOIA'HQH FILED APR. 17, 1908.

Patented 0012.4,1910.

6 SHEETS-418E151 1.

' /NVENTOR6; George E M'i/Jer'e/l, Ernest 7?. Seward, & Gear%e L Mason.I

W/ TNE SSE S 2% A TTORN n4: NORRIS PEI-RR: co, WASHINGYOH, n. c

VARIABLE SPEED MBGHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 17, 1908.

Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

| I I I I l //Vl/f/V T035; Georg E Witherel/ Ernest 7?. Seward & GeorgeL. Mason.

WITNESSE A ZTORNE r m: NORRIS PETERS cm, wAsHlNcwN, v, c.

- G. E. WITHERELL, E; R. SEWARD & GHL. MASON.

Fig: 5

In I "H" WITNESSES VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED APILH,190s.

Patent ed 0015.4, 1910.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

Er e t 77.5eward & Gee/'36 1.. Mason.

ATTORNEY G. E. WITHERE LL, E. R. SEWARD & G. L. MASON.

VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 3.17, 1908.

Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4.

WITNESSES ms Nunms PETERS 60-. WAsHmcmN. n. c,

Patented 0013.4,1910.

5 SHEBTB-SHEET 5.

. #vmvroms WITNESSES 3: E. W/t'here/l, Ernest 7?. Seward 8 George L.Masan.

1n: NORRIS FETERS ca, wAsHnvamN. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. WITI-IERELL AND ERNEST R. SEWARD,OF HARTFORD, AND GEORGE L.MASON, OF WAREHOUSE POINT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE HARTFORDMACHINE SCREW COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OFCONNECTICUT.

VARIABLE-SPEED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 17, 1908.

Patented Oct. 4, 1910. Serial No. 427,587.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE E. WITH- ERELL and ERNEST R. SEWARD, bothcitizens of the United States, and residents of Hartford, in the countyof Hartford and State of Connecticut, and GEORGE L. MASON, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Warehouse Point, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Variable-Speed Mechanism for Metal-VVorking Machines, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, whereby anyone skilled in the art may make and use the same.

The invention relates primarily to metal working machines, and moreparticularly to a variable speed mechanism for use in lathes, screwmachines or like devices, and still more particularly to devices of thischaracter having concentric spindles in which machines it is desirableor necessary to rotate such spindles at different speeds.

The object of the invention is to provide a spindle and operatingmechanism therefor through the medium of which the outer and innerconcentric spindles may be actuated at difierent speeds, althoughconstantly rotating in the same direction.

A further object of the invent-ion is to provide a means forfrictionally controlling the concentric spindles in their rotatingmovements and to retard or accelerate the rotations of one of thespindles, while both are in course of rotation.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of amachine embodying the improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the partsshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line X X of Fig. 1looking toward the left of said figure. Fig. 4c is a detail view inelevation of the clutch yoke lever and shaft. Fig. 5 is a detail planview of the spring stop forming part of the detent mechanism for theclutch lever. Fig. 6 is a plan view in detail of the clutch lever studwhich cooperates with the spring shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view inside elevation of a mechanism embodying a slightly modified form of thedevice shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the parts ofthe mechanism shown in modified form in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a view in endelevation of the parts shown in Figs. 7 and 8, illustrating theactuating cam. Fig. 10 is a detail View in plan wit-h parts broken insection illustrating the clutch and gear mechanism shown in Figs. 7, 8and 9. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of the clutches arranged uponthe clutch stud illustrated in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail view in sideelevation of the clutch yoke and slide illus trated in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and10.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the entire mechanism is mountedin a frame comprising a complete head of suitable form to be applied tothe bed of any ordinary metal working machine. Of course it is obviousthat the same elements herein shown and described might be re-arrangedso that the whole structure would be inclosed Within a casing and wouldform, comparatively speaking, one working unit of a machine.

Primarily, the device contemplates the utilization of positive drivingand driven members so related and controlled that the driven members maybe actuated at variable speeds from a main source of power and may beaccelerated or retarded without liability of injury through cramping orbreaking due to the positive driving elements.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 denotes the bed or base of ametal working machine, upon which is suitably mounted an adjustablesupport 2 which corresponds in general form and arrangement to the headof an ordinary machine. This frame is provided with bearing heads 3tforming suitable bearings for a pair of concentric spindles 6 and 8.

The outer spindle 6, which is directly driven by any suitable means as apulley 7 indicated in dotted outlines in Figs. 1 and 2, is of tubularform and forms a bearing for an inner spindle 8.

Arranged in parallel relation to concentric spindles 6 and 8, is acounter-shaft 9 suitably mounted in the bearings 1011 shown here in asextended from the main spindle bearings S l and bearing gears which meshwith the gears upon the outer spindle (3. The outer spindle 6 hassecured to it two gears 1213 meshing with corresponding gears 1415, thelatter two gears loosely mounted with reference to the counter-shaft 9.The gear 12 has a greater number of teeth than the gear 13, and ofcourse the gears 1415 of the counter-shaft 9 have the required number ofteeth to properly mesh with them. The gears 14-15 of the counter-shaftare provided respectively with clutch members 1617 by which they may besecured to uniformly rotate with the counter-shaft 9 by cooperatingclutch members 1819 fast upon the shaft 9. The shaft 9 has a suiiicientaxial movement to give the required clutching action with respect to itsclutch members 1819 and the clutch members 1617 of the gears 1415, itbeing understood that the clutches may both occupy a position ofdisengagement or that either clutch may be engaged with thecorresponding gear clutch.

At the outer end of the shaft 9 is a gear 20 which meshes with acomparatively wide faced gear 21, arranged to effect a frictional drivebetween the outer and inner spindles 6 and 8. The gear 21 is of wideface so that the shifting movement of the shaft 9 with its gear 20 willalways maintain a proper mesh between the gears 20 and 21. The gear 20has a smaller number of teeth than the gear 15 and a larger number ofteeth than the gear 14, and of course it is understood that there arevariations in the number of teeth of the gear 21 as compared with thegears 12-13.

Upon the outer end of the inner spindle 8 is a disk-like member 22having an extended or elongated hub 23, upon which the gear 21 isloosely mounted except for the friction device hereinafter described.The disklike member 22 is keyed or secured to the inner spindle 8, whileon the opposite side of the gear 21 is a similar disk-like member 24which is also mounted upon the extended hub 23 of the disk 22. This disk24 is backed up by an adjusting collar 25 and may be locked in anydesired position axially of the extended hub 23 by a binding screw 26.As shown the collar 25 is split so that it may be clamped at any desiredposition on the hub 23. By its adjustment the distance between the disks22 and 24 may be varied and said disks may thus exert a greater or lesspressure upon the gear 21. Intermediate the opposing faces of the disks22 and 24 and the body portion of the gear 21 are arranged frictiondisks 27 which may be made of any suitable material, as for instance,leather or fiber,and which are clamped between the disks 22 and 24 andthe body portion of the gear 21 to effect a greater or less cohesiveeffect according to the adjustment secured through the collar 25. Itwill thus be observed that the gear 21 is frictionally bound to theinner spindle 8, and while it will cause the rotation of said spindlesection when rotated by the cooperating gear 20, it will only rotatesaid spindle positively until a certain resistance may be applied toretard its rotating action, as for instance-by holding or retarding thespindle S.

The counter-shaft 9 and the clutch sections 18-19 are moved int-o andout of engagement with their corresponding clutch members by a yoke 28secured to a shaft 29 which is suitably arranged in the frame 1 of themachine and is provided at its outer end with an operating handle orlever 30. This handle has secured in it a stud 31 provided with aV-shaped notch 32 which cooperates with a detent spring 33 having awedgeshaped lock 34 adapted to engage and hold the block of the lever 30in its normal position with both of the clutches 1819 out of engagement.As the handle 30 is shifted in either one or the other direction theclutch members 18 and 19 will be made to engage with the correspondingclutch members 16-17 upon the gears 14-15,and thus citl one of the setsor couplets of gears will be connected up with the main drivingmechanism of the spindles and will thus be rotated. lVhenever the shaft9 is driven by either of the gears 14 or 15 through the engagement oftheir respective clutches, the gear 20 will be rotated and will transmitits movements derived from the shaft 9 to the gear 21 and the innerspindle 8.

In ordinary practice of the invention the gear 20 has one more tooththan the gear 14 and one less tooth than the gear 15; thus, when thegear 14 is clutched to its shaft the gear 21 and the inner spindle Swill be rotated at a slightly greater speed than the speed of the outerspindle (3, giving a moderate difference of rotation between the twospindles, although both rotated in the same direction. In like manner ifthe clutch 19 is thrown into engagement with the corresponding gearclutch 17, the inner spindle 8 through the gears 20 and 21 will berevolved at a slightly less speed than the outer spindle 6. It is thusapparent that the rotation of the inner spindle may be accelerated orretarded with reference to the rotations of the outer spindle with bothparts rotating in the same direction.

The gear 21 is held to the inner spindle 8 through the frictional meansheretofore described consisting of the disks 22-24- and washers 27, andas this frictional grip is made adj nstable, it follows that the heightof pressure and driving effect of the inner spindle 8 will be determinedby the resistance exerted upon the spindle 8 in comparison to thefrictional contact exerted by the disks 2224. hen the resistance on thespindle 8 overcomes the driving force exerted by the friction disks22-24 the gear 21 will slip and thus prevent fracture of the partsprovided the resistance on the spindle S was suflicient to causebreakage.

One of the objects of providing the (litterent rotary movements betweenthe inner and outer spindles, while having them both rotatedcontinuously and in the same direction, is to provide for the use oftools where a different speed or a uniform speed is required atalternate intervals,-it is therefore essential to provide a resilientdrive between the spindles to prevent breakage of the tools when theparts are placed under increased strain. For instance, the operatinglever 30, when thrown into one of its clutching positions, might be heldfor too long a period and unless the slip or friction device wereemployed there would be liability of damaging the tools or work.

Hereinabove there has been described an operating handle 30 foreffecting different rotary movements of the spindles. There has alsobeen shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings an automatic means foractuating the clutches 1819. This automatic means consists of a cam disk35, bearing cams 36 suitably placed and timed to oscillate the shaft 29and its yoke 28 through the medium of a roll 37 secured to said shaft 29and arranged in the path of movement of the cam. Of course the cam disk35 with its cam is rotated at a suitable speed by the shaft 38 which maybe driven in any desired manner and in proper time relation to the otherworking parts. The spring detent 33 which normally holds the operatinglever 30 is, for convenience, suitably mounted in a block 39 where it issecured by a set screw &0.

While the above description has been confined to the form of inventionshown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, a modified form of the device isillustrated in Figs. 7 to 12 inelusive. In the form of device hereinshown all of the several gear mechanisms, clutch mechanisms andoperating parts are located at one end of the head of the machine andconstitute practically an attachment applied to and overhanging the endof the movable support. The principle of operation and the generalelements of the device are substantially the same as heretoforedescribed, both in principle and mode of operation. In these figures,the numeral 100 denotes a support having bearing sections 101102, inwhich is supported an outer spindle 103 and an inner concentric spindle104. The outer spindle has mounted upon it and secured thereto a pair ofgears 105106, the former having a greater number of teeth than thelatter. Secured to the inner spindle which projects through these gears105106 is a sleeve 107, having upon one face a disk 108 against whichrests the body part of a gear 109. This gear is cut away on the oppositeside as at 110 to form a recess within which a friction washer 111 maybe arranged. The gear is supported upon a sleeve 112 having a flange 113resting against the friction. washer and coiiperating with the flange ordisk 108 to exert the desired resistance or frictional pressure upon thesides of the gear 109.

Adjusting screws 11 1 extending through the disk 108 and into the sleeve112 determine the amount of pressure exerted by the disks upon the gear.This gear 109 meshes with a gear 115 which has upon one side a diskbearing pins 116 forming a clutch member to cooperate with pins 117arranged upon the opposing face of the gear 118, which latter gearmeshes with the gear 106. On the opposite side of the gear 115 is a pinclutch disk 119 having pins 120 which 00- operate with pins 121 of aclutch disk 122. The clutch disk 119 is secured to or formed integrallywith the gear 115, while the clutch disk 122 is formed upon a sleeve 123which has secured to it at its opposite end the gear 124, which gearmeshes with the gear 105. All of the several gears adjacent to the gear115 and its clutch members are mounted upon a fixed stud 125 directlysecured in the supporting frame 100. Operatively arranged with relationto said stud is a second stud 126 which has formed on one face a rack127 and supports a clutch shifting sleeve 128 which has a yoke 129 thatfits within a recess formed between the clutch disk 119 and the gear115. This clutch shifting sleeve has an opening 130 and lugs 131,between which there is pivotally supported an operating handle 132bearing on its inner end a segmental rack 133 which meshes with the rackupon the stud 126. As the handle 132 is moved it is apparent that thegear 115 and its clutch members will be moved into engagement eitherwith the clutch member of the gear 118 or the clutch member of the gear124, in the latter instance through the medium of the sleeve 123, clutchdisk 122 and clutch pins 121 and 120.

The gear 124 having a less number of teeth than the gear 118 and thegear 115 having a greater number of teeth than one of the gears and aless number of teeth than the other gear, produces, when driving throughthe gear 109, a different rotary movement between the inner spindle 104;and the outer spindle 103. Obviously, the movement of the clutch membersand their engagement and disengagement either retards or accelerates onespindle with reference to the other dependent upon the clutch which isin engagement.

The friction device heretofore referred to in connection with the gear109 of this modified form of device operates in exactly the same mannerand for the same purpose and effects the same results as the frictiondevice described in connection with the preferred form, and whenever theresistance to one spindle is suflicient, the gear 109 will slip, thuspreventing breakage. In this &

modified form of the device the parts may be automatically actuated by acam or series of cams 134: mounted upon a suitable cam disk 135 andacting u on a roll 136, carried upon a stud securec to the clutch sleeve128.

In case cams are used to automatically control the shifting of theclutches and the corresponding difierent rotary movements of thespindle, the arrangement of said cams may be such as to accelerate orretard the relative rotations of the spindles for predetermined periods,and to permit them to run in unison for predetermined periods. Forinstance, there must be one cam for throwing the parts out of normalposition for accelerating the movement of the inner spindle, and anothercam for throwing the parts back to normal position when said spindle hasbeen accelerated for the required period of time. Two cams must likewisebe used for throwing the parts from normal position to accelerate themovement of the outer spindle and insuring the returning of said partsto normal position when said outer spindle has been accelerated for therequired period.

Obviously, various changes as to details might be made in the devicehereinabove shown and described without departing from the spirit orintent of the invention. In fact, numerous constructions might bedevised and used without departing from the invention so long as thedifferent rotary movement is effected between the two spindles, wherebyone or the other maybe accelerated either by hand manipulation orautomatically and without necessitating the stopping of the spindle or achange of directional rotation while running.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a support, concentric spindles mounted to rotatetherein, gears mounted upon the outer spindle, intermeshing gearsoperatively mounted with respect to the gears upon said outer spindle, agear mounted upon the inner spindle, an

' intermeshing gear operatively mounted to mesh therewith and clutchdevices for operatively connecting either one or the other of theintermeshing gears of the outer spindle with the intermeshing gear ofthe inner spindle whereby a difference in rotation is effected betweenthe inner and outer spindles.

2. In combination with a support, concentric spindles mounted to rotatetherein, gears mounted upon the outer spindle, gears intermeshingrespectively with the gears of the outer spindle, intermeshing gearsintermediate the inner spindle and the intermediate gears of the outerspindle, and clutch devices for operatively connecting either one or theother of the sets of intermeshing gears of the outer spindle with theintermeshing gears of the inner spindle, whereby a difference inrotation is effected between the inner and outer spindles.

3. In combination with a support, a spindle mounted to rotate therein, apair of gears mounted upon said spindle, a second spindle memberconcentrically arranged within the first named, outer spindle, a gearcarried by the inner spindle, a pair of loosely mounted gears meshingrespectively with the gears on the outer spindle, a gear meshing withthe gear upon the inner spindle, and clutch devices interposed betweenthe first named pair of gears and the gear upon the inner spindle.

4. In combination with a support, concentric spindles mounted therein, agear operatively mounted with respect to the inner spindle, a frictiondisk secured to said inner spindle and bearing against the gear, acooperating friction disk operatively arranged to exert a clampingaction upon the gear with respect to the first named disk, a gearmeshing with the gear of the inner spindle, gears mounted upon the outerspindle, gears intermeshing with the respective gears of the outerspindle and clutch devices for operatively connecting either of the setsof intermeshing gears of the outer spindle with the intermeshing gearsof the inner spindle.

5. In combination with a support, concentric spindles mounted to rotatetherein, a, gear frictiona-lly held to one of said spindles andconnections intermediate said gear and the other spindle fortransmitting to it a movement of either greater or less speed than thespeed of the first named spindle.

6. Inv combination with a support, concentric spindles mounted to rotatetherein, a gear frictionally held in connection with one of the saidspindles, a plurality of sets of intermeshing gears connected with theother one of the concentric spindles and connected with the saidfrictional gear, and clutch devices cooperating with said gears forcontrolling the relative difference of rotation of the spindles.

7. In combination with a support, concentric spindles mounted to rotatetherein, said spindles rotatable relatively to each other and automaticmeans for controlling the 1 difference of rotation of the spindles.

8. In combination with a support, concentric spindles mounted to rotatetherein, said spindles being rotatable relatively to each other, a pairof gears secured to the outer spindle, a gear mounted upon the innerspindle, a stud projecting from the support, a pair of gears mounted torotate on said stud and meshing with the gears 011 the outer spindle, agear intermeshing with the gear of the inner spindle and clutchmechanism for operatively connecting either of the pairs of gears of theouter spindle with the intermeshing gear of the inner spindle.

9. In combination with a support, concentric spindles mounted to rotatetherein, said spindles being rotatable relatively to each other, a pairof gears secured to the outer spindle, a gear frictionally mounted uponthe inner spindle, a stud projecting from the support, a pair of gearsmounted to rotate on said stud and meshing with the gears on the outerspindle, a gear meshing with the gear of the inner spindle and clutchmechanism for operatively connecting either of the pairs of gears of theouter spindle with the intermeshing gears of the inner spindle.

10. In combination with a support, concentric spindles mounted to rotatetherein, the said spindles being rotatable relatively to each other, apair of gears mounted side by side on one of the spindles, a single gearborne by the other spindle, a stud secured to the frame, a clutch memberhaving a sleeve surrounding the said stud, a gear fast upon the sleeveengaging with one of the said pair of gears secured to one of thespindles, a clutch member and gear loosely mounted upon the sleeve, thisgear engaging the other of the said pair of gears, a gear and clutchmembers loosely mounted on the sleeve, this gear meshing with the saidsingle gear on the other spindle, and its set of clutch members beingarranged to engage respectively with the already mentioned set of clutchmem bers, one of the sets of clutch members being adjustable, and meansfor actuating the adjustable set of clutches.

11. In combination with a support, concentric spindles mounted to rotatetherein, the said spindles being rotatable relatively to each other, apair of gears mount-ed side by side on one of the spindles, a singlegear borne by the other spindle, a stud secured to the frame, a clutchmember having a sleeve surrounding the said stud, a gear fast upon thesleeve engaging with one of said pair of gears secured to one of thespindles, a clutch member and gear loosely mounted upon the sleeve, thisgear engaging the other of the said pair of gears, a gear and clutchmembers loosely mounted on the sleeve, this gear meshing with the saidsingle gear on the other spindle, and the clutch members ar ranged toengage respectively With the already mentioned clutch members, one ofthe sets of clutch members being adjustable, and automatic means foractuating the adjustable set of clutches to cause one or the other ofthe said pair of gears to be connected With the said single gear.

GEORGE E. WITHERELL. ERNEST R. SEWVARD. GEORGE L. MASON. l/Vitnesses:

J osnrn F. COOLEY, SAMUEL H. CURrIss.

